Patients’ groups said difficulties accessing GP care and a growing crisis in social care mean too many people are already ending up in A&E.

Dennis Reed, of Silver Voices, a campaign group for the over-60s, said a growing crisis in hospitals and ambulance services was being fuelled by problems with accessing GPs and social care. 

He said: “Primary care and social care are the lynchpins of the NHS and with them in meltdown, we are now seeing the knock-on effects all across the country, in ambulances and A&E departments – the situation is horrendous.”

Mr Reed said more needed to be done to improve access to GPs to alleviate pressures on hospitals, with particular concern over the struggles people have had in accessing face-to-face appointments since the pandemic. 

GPs ‘under incredible strain’

On Monday Dr Katherine Henderson, the president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said lives were being put at risk, with too many patients forced to endure “unbearable” experiences in dangerously crowded A&E units.

Prof Stephen Powis, the NHS England national medical director, said health service staff were working “flat out” caring for increasing numbers of Covid and emergency patients but urged anyone in need of help to come forward, saying the NHS 111 website could “signpost” the best places for help.

Prof Martin Marshall, the chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said doctors were working under “intense” pressure, delivering more appointments every month than before the pandemic. He said the fall in the number of GPs had left many working “to their limits”, with many “burning out” and leaving the profession early.

“GPs and patients want the same thing, and we share our patients’ concerns about the difficulties they face in accessing GP appointments,” he said.

“GPs and our teams make the vast majority of NHS patient contacts, and in doing so alleviate pressures across the health service – including in emergency departments – but the service is under incredible strain.” 

He urged the Government to make progress on pledges to increase GP numbers. 

The new guidance also instructed doctors to ensure that at least one practice in every area is open all day on Saturdays and until 8pm on weekdays by October. 

Until then, GPs are being asked to extend their hours beyond what they currently provide – meaning that, if a surgery is currently contracted to open until 6.30pm, it would only be paid for “extended hours” by opening later.  

The latest guidance also tries to bring an end to half-day closing, saying this should no longer be allowed on a routine basis.